The scale of the problem of people looking at indecent images of children in the UK is "horrifying", a police chief has said.
West Midlands Police chief constable Dave Thompson said a big discussion was needed in society about the issue, which was about "much more than law enforcement"as he was asked about whether naming and shaming offenders was a bigger deterrent than a straightforward prosecution.
Chief constables have raised concerns about the scale of the problem of child porn voyeurism. Credit: PA
The chief constable was speaking at a meeting of the Home Affairs Committee inquiry into policing for the future, where Conservative MP Tim Loughton asked about suggestions that there should be alternative prosecutions for those guilty of viewing indecent images, with those in denial unlikely to be receptive to treatment.
Gareth Morgan, chief constable of Staffordshire Police, said prosecuting those who look at indecent images should not be based on whether or not police forces have the resources.
It has to be based on judgments that a range of people make, not just the polices service," he told MPs.
